The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 350

wo~ld may _believe that thou hast sent me." 1. The oneness prayerl fnr is not thrit, o/ believers with one another, but that oneness which is the foundation of vi8ible unitj'- the union of believers with Christ, and through him with God. 2. It cannot refer to a visible unity, bocauso it is a unity of successive generations of believers, who cannot be in the world at one and the same time. 3. It is a unity resemblin,q the union ef the Father and the Son, and is therefore more than a mere moral unity of purpose, or opinion, or co-operation. It is an essentially vital unity (Rom. xii. 5; Eph. iv. 4). God is its essential Centre. 4. The ultimate de.~ign and result of thi.9 oneness is ita ~fleet upon the world. Where disciples are seen to be (1) of one faith, (2) of one spirit, (3) and one love, the world will have better thoughts of God and hie gospel. • Vera. 22-2!.-A prayer that the disciple8 may share in the Lord's glory. Jesus supports his petition by declaring what he has already done for his disciples. I. HE BAB ALREADY IMPARTED TO THEM A SHARE IN ms GLORY. "And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them." 1. This glory is not apostolic o,ffice or gift of mfracle. 2. It is not the glory of the future kingdom. 3. It is the glory of adoption. As Christ's glory consisted in his Sonsbip, so that of believers consisted in their filial dignity, as children of God and brethren of himself as the elder Brother. 4. The effect of this glory is twofold. (1) The formation of a closely united family in heaven n.nd in earth. "I in them, and th.ou in me, that their oneness may be perfect." God living in Christ, Christ in each believer, reproduce the Divine unity on earth. (2) A demonstration to the world of Christ's mission, and the Father's love to his children. (a) Christ's mission would be manifest in its blessed and enduring effects. (b) The Father's love to believers would be manifest as a love resembling that with which he regards his Son. (cz) He loves them in Christ; (.8) he loves them through Christ; ('Y) his love is the guarantee that he will uphold them, as he did Christ, assi.st them in his service, provide for their wants, and reward them for their services. 6. <Jhrisfs will is that his disciples should share his throne in the heavens. "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (1) His will is that his people should be where he is. (a) Love seeks the companionship of the loved. (b) Heaven is wherever Christ is. (c) Union with Christ draws after it everlasting communion with him. (2) His will is that his people should see his glory; (a) not his essential glory, for that could not be given him, (b) but the glory of a consummated fellowship effected between God and man. Vera. 25, 26.-.An appeal to God's righteousness. Our Lord approaches the climax of his prayer. L MARK THE MODE OF ADDRESS, "Righteous Father." Six times in this prayer has Christ addressed God as Father; but the name here used implies that Christ insists upon the reward of his service and his sufferings. Justice pleads on behalf of the disciples. The thought of a "righteous !father" is: 1. Comforting to the righteous and tlte oppressed. 2. Terrible to fhe ungodly. II. MARK THE OONTRABT BETWEEN THE UNBELIEVING WORLD AND THE FAITHFUL SoN AND SERVA.NT OF Goo. 1. Consider the world's ignorance of God. "The world bath not known thee." (1) The heathen want the means of knowledge. (2) The world is unwilling to know God. (3) The world does not know him so as to delight in him, or to serve him, or to obey him. 2. Consider <Jhrisfs knO'Wledge of God. "But I have known thee, and these have believed that thou hast sent me." (1) He knows God immediately. (2) And he is the Source of all ~aving knowie<lge, to believers. 3. <Jhrist wilt make still fuller declarations of his Fathers Name to the world's end. "And I have made known unto them thy Name, and I will make it known." (1) 'l'his will be realized through (a) his Word, (b) his Spirit, (c) and his ministers. (2) The design of these fuller revelations. " That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." (a) God's love ought to dwell in believers :ui an habitual experience. (b) :t is the safetf and the glory of bdievers.. (c) ~t is. the mean~ of o~r growing conformity to God's image. (d) Wherever love 1s Chr1St is, "dwelling" ID believers, (e) They who have Christ in them have (cz) safety, (.8) access to him at r.J.I timos, 6•) peace in their souls. MO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. ten. X\'ll. 1-26. ---------------------------------- HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-The Divine idea of g1ory. There have ever been prevalent 11.mong men false ·dews of glory. It is ne.tnral to admire pomp and splendour, wee.Ith, magni- ficence, and power. Christie.nity bas done much to counteract the common tendency to place glor~- in external greatness, to rebuke and to banish such conceptions from tho hi~ber thinking of men. Unr Lord employs the term "glory" in a higher, n moral and spirituRl acceptstion. He teaches us what true glory is when he prays, "Father glorify thy Son, that t-by Son also may glorify thee." ' I. THE GLORIFJ0ATION OF THE SON llY THE FATHER. For this Jesus prayed; therefore it was something yet to b~. 1. Christ sought to be glorified in and after his approaching suffering and humilie.tion. The scenes through which he was about to pass, the pa.ins and sorrows he we.s a.bout to endure, were such M could not ee.sily in most minds be e.ssociated with glory. Still, to the enlightened and sympathetic mind, there was even in the cross a majesty unpe.ralleled. The demeanour of the Crucified was a demeanour morally glorious. But the prayer of our Saviour probably had reference to the victory which he should reach even through his seeming defeat, 'l'he Resurrection e.nd Ascension completed and crowned the work of humiliation and suffering. "The hee.d the.t once we.s crowned with thorns Is crowned with glory now ; A royal die.dam e.dorns The mighty Victor's brow." 2. Cl1rist sought to be glorified in the efficacy and results of his mediation. The results of his ce.rthly ministry might t.o some minds seem meagre. But the "greater works •i which followed his ascension were such as to excite the ame.zement of the world. Tho new dispensa.tion excelled in glory. The trophies of Imme.nuel were many and illus- trious. The conversion of nations, the submission of kings, the homage of society, all proved to be glorious, all contributed to render glorious, the Name of the Son or man. And this spiritual glory never wanes; it is destined to grow and brighten with the advancing ages. II. THE GLORIFICATION OF TlIE FATHER BY THE SoN. This is represented by tho Lord Jesus e.s consequent upon that glorifica.tion for which he prayed. The ultimate end of all is the glory of the Eternal himself. How is it that this result is brought about? 1. The Father is glorified when there is imparted to men a true knowledgo of himself. 2. By the diffusion throughout humanity of the new and Divine life. 3. By the obedience and praise offered consciously, willingly, and reasonably, to tho F&ther, by the growing multitudes of Christ's redeemed, through countless ages, on earth and in heaven.-T. , er. 2.-0hrist's C01U1cioumess of power. The early discourses of our Lord show us that be commenced his ministry with the conviction that he was anointed and conse- crated by the Father for the greatest work of all ages. And as his ministry drew to its close, he retained the same assurance. Even although he was aware of the approach of the awful end of his earthly career, of the apparent victory of hie foes, his faith did not falter. He still anticipated the complete fulfilment of the purpose of his advent. In his prayer to the Father, this consciousness of power accounts for the confidence with which the results of his ministry and sacrifice are anticipated. I. CRBIST's AUTHORITY OVER ALL. We may consider: 1. Its origin in the appoint- ment of the Father. 2. Its realization in the incarnation and sacrifice of the Redeemer. The authority was native to our Lord JeSUB; but it made itself recognized and secured it.s exercise by his earthly ministry. 3. It.a range over all humanity independently of the character of indi vidua.l men. 4. The new view which, by the aid of this glorious truth, we are able to take of the providential and mediatorial government of the world. 5. Tbe rebuke thus administ.ered to our fear and faithlessness. II. CHRIST'S GIFT TO BOHE. 1. The mystery of the limitation. This lies In the coun.eels of the Divine wisdom, and attempts t.o explain it are usually of little value. 2. 'f1,e priceless and glorious nature of what is bestowed. Nothing higher than life- cu. :tvn, 1-26.] THE GOSPF,L ACCORDING 'l'O BT. JOHN. 361